F R A N S A L I A N S

St. John Fisher Church is situated in Lynnwood under the Archdiocese of Pretoria. St John Fisher Catholic Church Lynnwood was opened and blessed by: Archbishop John C Gardner in August 1961. The first parish priest was Msgr. Francis Ward.  Early in 1969 Msgr. Ward left Lynnwood due to ill health. Archbishop Gardner and priests from the monastery celebrated mass until Father Raymund Mullan was appointed parish priest in December 1969.

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During his time in office the hall was built.  Funds were raised by fund raising events, donations and a loan. The wooden alter was removed and the present green marble altar was erected.

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 Father Mullan was appointed Military chaplain in December 1979. Father Cyril Schulpen was appointed to St John Fisher Lynnwood.  He only served one year and then retired.

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Father Ken Spargo took office in 1981 until his death on 30 April 1993. Msgr. Marc de Meuleneure was appointed parish priest by Archbishop George Daniel in December 1993.  He left St John Fisher in April 2013 to take over the new parish in Zwaavelpoort – The Church of the Beatitudes.

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In August 2011 St John Fisher Lynnwood celebrated our Golden Jubilee.  The pipe organ which is now in use was purchased from the University of Pretoria, it was the old organ from the Old Monastery. Father Brian Du Cann, a convert and minister from the Anglican Church, became a married priest at St John Fisher Lynnwood to help Msgr. Marc until his death.

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The neighbouring parish at Zwaavelpoort was built, with St John Fisher Lynnwood helping with funding.  The two parishes worked as one until May 2013. Father Craig Laubscher was appointed parish priest here at St. John Fisher from May 2013 to January 2014.

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Between January and May 2014 Fr Gordon and Fr Karabo alternated to celebrate Mass.

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  Father Bogdan Wilkaniec (SChr) was appointed as parish priest for English and Polish parishioners in May 2014.  He is Polish but has been living in South Africa for more than 30 years.  

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 Father Bogdan introduced weekday morning Masses and morning prayers with the daily rosary being said.   Five Masses are said over the weekend.  The Haggadah Meal was introduced.

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Readers, ministers of the Eucharist and catechism teachers have been well trained and inspired.  Eucharistic Ministers were given robes to wear during Mass.    The Renew Group was implemented.

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Fr. Bogdan was transferred from Lynnwood parish and left the country for good to Australia. Fr. Thomas Joseph ( Biju) Vanderkunnel msfs  who was then the parish Priest of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Church Midrand, was appointed, parish priest of St. Joh Fisher Catholic Church Lynnwood on 1st May 2022.

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